John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. | |||||
Psalm 45:9 Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. | |||||
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready. Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. | |||||
Revelation 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. | |||||
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. | |||||
Presentation of the Bride to the Only Begotten Son of God
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
I. The Coming King
Psalm 45:1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
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A. Verses 6-7 are quoted in Hebrews 1 and attribute the throne, “O God” to Christ.
Psalm 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Psalm 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Psalm 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
B. The King Greatly Desires the Beauty of the Queen – Who is the Queen?
Psalm 45:9 Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Psalm 45:10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; Psalm 45:11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. Psalm 45:12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. |
C. The Kings daughter is the Queen – We’ll See This Again at the End
Psalm 45:13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
Psalm 45:14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
Psalm 45:15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
D. The People Praise The Lord for Ever and Ever
Psalm 45:16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
Psalm 45:17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Analogies of Christ and the Church | |
Household of God – Christ as the Chief Cornerstone and the Church as Lively Stones | Ephesians 2:17-22; I Peter 2:3-9 |
Christ as the Head, the Church as the Body of Christ | Ephesians 5:23, 30, 31 |
Marriage of the Lamb – Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as the Bride | Ephesians 5:18-31; Psalm 45: 6, 8, 9, 13-17 |
II. This Marriage is Depicted in the Story of Abraham, Sarah, Eliezer, and Isaac
A. Remember the Story started in Genesis 21?
Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
Genesis 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? |
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Genesis 22: 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
Genesis 22: 11 ¶ And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
Genesis 22: 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Genesis 22: 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
God Preached the Gospel to Abraham in a figure
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Genesis 22:19 “So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”
B. Now to Continue the Story. Abraham descends from Mount Moriah; But the Bible does not Mention Isaac! As Far as the narrative is concerned Isaac is still on the Mount.
1.) Following chapter 22 very close, we find Abraham descending the mountain
2.) But we do not read anywhere is Scripture that Isaac descended!
3.) Now, of course, we know that Isaac did descend at the same time, but
4.) We will not find Isaac’s name until he reappears in chapter 24 to meet his bride.
a.) As far as the Bible record goes, Isaac was left up on the mountain.
b.) In other words, it was written like that, inspired by God, so Isaac is not seen again until after his resurrection (In Figure) until he goes out in the field to meet Rebekah, his bride.
c.) Isaac’s name is not mentioned once in the rest of chapter 22, or in 23, - he is absent.
d.) Isaac is not even mentioned at his mother’s funeral (Chapter 23) (Sarah a type of Israel)
5.) This absence of Isaac was intentional on God’s Part to Show Us A Dispensational Truth
a.) After the Greater Son of Abraham was slain on Calvary, He disappeared and the Nation of Israel is “set aside” and “buried”, as if she were without her Messiah.
b.) From the record, Isaac didn’t even attend is mother’s funeral.
c.) It is as if Isaac is separated from his father.
6.) Jesus too, the Messiah antitype of Isaac was
a.) Rejected b.) Crucified c.) Ascended into heaven.
7.) During His absence the Nation of Israel is set aside, as represented by the death of Sarah and her burial.
Genesis 22:2-4 “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. |
C. Presentation Of The Bride - Probably nowhere in the Bible is there found a picture as complete and beautiful of the calling out of the bride for the Lord Jesus Christ as we have here in Genesis 24.
1.) After Sarah died, Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to bring back a bride for Isaac.
2.) When his son was forty years old, Abraham called his servant, Eliezer (God’s helper) to go to
a far country and bring back a bride for his son, But Eliezer had one concern:
Genesis 24:5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
Genesis 24:6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
Genesis 24:7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
Genesis 24:8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
Genesis 24:9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
D. When the servant of Abraham, who typifies the Holy Ghost, met Rebekah,
1.) He showed her the riches of Isaac
2.) Told her the purpose for which he had come.
Genesis 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
Genesis 23:11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
Genesis 24:12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
Genesis 23:13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
Genesis 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
Genesis 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
Genesis 23:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. Genesis 23:17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. Genesis 23:18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. Genesis 23:19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. |
Genesis 23:20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
Genesis 23:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
Genesis 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; Genesis 24:23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in? Genesis 24:24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. Genesis 24:25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. Genesis 24:26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. |
Genesis 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
Genesis 24:57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. Genesis 24:58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. |
I Don’t Imagine You Have Ever Regretted Saying to the Holy Spirit,” I Will Go.”
E. Eliezer had given a hard proposition to the young bride - He asked her to do three things.
1.) To believe a man she had never met.
2.) Go to a land from which she would never return.
3.) Marry a man she had never seen.
F. Rebekah decided to go with Eliezer, and to wed Abraham’s son, Isaac.
1. She believed the word of the servant Abraham had sent.
2. With the evidence of the jewels he presented as a token of the word of his servant,
3. She was willing to set out for this strange land.
G. Rebekah got ready and went with this man to a strange and unfamiliar country
1. She hardly knew in which direction they were going.
2. She simply trusted her leader sent by the master, Abraham.
Genesis 24: 62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. Genesis 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. Genesis 24:64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. Genesis 24:65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. Genesis 24:66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. |
Genesis 24:67 “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
I. The meaning of this typical and prophetic picture from the life of Abraham and Isaac.
A. God the father had only one “only begotten Son.”
B. After He had offered Him up to die on the cross of Calvary - He too sent His servant,
1. The Holy Ghost, represented by Eliezer, sent into a far country of this wicked world
2. To call out a bride, the Church, for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. That servant was sent out on the Day of Pentecost and has been on His journey now for 2,000 years.
C. He is asking men and women to come and be the bride of the Master’s Son. The same questions are put to sinners today. You remember they were:
1. Believe a person you have never met before, even the Holy Spirit of God.
2. Go with Him, allow Him to lead and guide you by faith into a far country
3. Marry a man you have never seen.
D. This then, is the simple plan of salvation. It is by faith. We must believe the testimony of the Holy Ghost in this world, or as the Bible puts it:
I Peter 1:8 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”
E. When we believe on Him, immediately the Servant, the Holy Ghost,
1. Opens up the treasures of His grace to our eyes, even as Eliezer opened up the bags of jewels to show the riches of the son to the prospective bride.
2. Then He clothes us with the raiment which the Son has provided, even His sinless righteousness.
3. We set out on a journey with the Holy Ghost, with only Him and the Bible as our guide.
a. We probably do not know the next step
b. We must put all our trust in Him and let Him Lead
4. Sometimes the days are hard, but when the journey seems long,
a. the Holy Ghost tells us more about the One whom we are soon to meet and we take courage and continue on again.
b. When the Holy Ghost takes some of those precious jewels from the Book of our blessed Master, and with the promises of truth, encourages us all along the way.
5. All the way, the Servant talks, not of Himself, but only of Him whom we are going to meet.
John 16:13,14 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
Isaac – A Type of Christ - The Bridegroom Cometh | |
Getting The Bride For Isaac | Gathering the Bride of Christ |
Isaac’s record leaves him still on Mt. Moriah after being sacrificed – absent at his mother’s funeral, appears again when the bride has appeared | Christ was crucified, died, buried, resurrected and translated, but appears again at the rapture of the bride - John 16:10 |
Sarah dies and set in a tomb | The Nation of Israel is “set aside” |
Isaac the only begotten son of Abraham - | Jesus the only begotten Son of God the Father |
After the sacrifice, Abraham sent Elieser to teach the bride about Christ – Genesis | After the sacrifice, (Christ on the cross), The Father sent the Holy Ghost to teach the bride about Christ John 16:7-14 |
Rebekah had to trust Eliezer to guide her on the journey to Isaac | We must trust the Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey |
All the way, Eliezer talks, not of Himself, but only Isaac | All the way, the Servant talks, not of Himself, but only of Him whom we are going to meet. – John 16:13 |
Rebekah had to take Eliezer’s description of Isaac by faith, with evidence of jewels for a downpayment. | We, too must take the Word’s description of Christ by faith, with crowns as downpayment. Ephesians 1:13-14 |
III. It Is Easy to See the Jewish Wedding Custom in The Story of Isaac and Rebekah:
Steps in a Jewish Wedding – Can You See These Steps In Story of Isaac and Rebekah | ||
Step | Description | Scriptures |
Marriage Covenant | The dowry is payed and the covenant is made, with a meal and shared cup. | Acts 20:28; 1Corinthians 6:19-20; 11:25; Ephesians 5:25-27 |
Marriage Chamber Prepared | The son returns to his father’s house to build the bridal chamber. | |
Bridegroom Goes and Gets the Bride | The father has to sign off on the building (Matthew 24:36), before the groom goes and gets the bride The bride does not know the time of his coming. So, the groom’s arrival was usually preceded by a shout. | John 14:3; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, Acts 1:7; Mark 13:32 |
Bride Cleansed | The bride undergoes ritual emersion (Cleansing) | 1Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation19:7-8 |
Consummation | In the privacy of the marriage chamber the bride and groom consummate the marriage. | Revelation 19:7 |
Marriage Feast | The marriage feast - many are invited. | |
IV. The Bride of Christ is now in the Espousal Stage
II Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
II Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
II Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
V. The Most Beautiful Illustration of the Marriage of the Lamb is as Paul Stated:
Genesis 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Genesis 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
A. Adam Is A Picture Of Christ.
Christ is called the "Second Man" (I Corinthians 15:47) - Christ is called the "Last Adam" (I Corinthians 15:45)
I Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
I Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
I Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
B. A Superlatively Beautiful Picture
Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Genesis 22:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Adam slept: God created from his wounded side a wife - part of himself. Adam paid for her by the shedding of blood. When Adam woke up his bride was presented to him, Adam said:
Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
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D. Let’s Go Back To Ephesians:
Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
E. Now All Is Clear – Adam was a “type” or “picture of Christ in figure”
1.) Christ left His Father's house to gain His bride, at the price of His own life.
2.) Jesus, the Last Adam, like the first, must be put to sleep to purchase His bride,
3.) And Jesus died on the cross and slept for three days in the tomb.
4.) His side too, was opened after He had fallen asleep,
5.) And from that wounded side redemption flowed, because He rose from the dead.
F. The Church
1.) His body also purchased His bride.
2.) The church, like Eve, was a new creation,
3.) A new Creation - Not by a natural birth, but by a supernatural operation by God.
Ephesians 5:25 ... even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
“Building of Eve” – Picture of Christ & The Church | |
Adam | Christ |
At first A Dim Picture - Adam is a “figure” Tupos of Christ (Romans 5:14) | Christ is called the "Second Man" (I Corinthians 15:47), and "Last Adam" (I Corinthians 15:45) |
Adam was put to a deep sleep. Something was taken from his side, for God to “build” Adam’s bride. (Genesis 2:21) | Jesus is called the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) |
When Adam woke the bride was presented to him by God. Adam then said: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:22) | Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Ephesians 5:31 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
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Now all is clear - Adam is a picture of Christ, In figure, Who left His Father's house to purchase His bride at the expense of His own life. Jesus, the Last Adam, like the first, was put to sleep to purchase His bride, the church, and Jesus died on the cross and slept for three days. His side too, was opened after He had fallen asleep, and from that wounded side redemption flowed. The church - His body (He is the Head). The church, like Eve, is a new creation, not by a natural birth, but by a supernatural operation by God, Because He rose from the Dead. | |
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